Adaptor for attaching a prime mover to an actuator

ABSTRACT

An adaptor is used to couple a prime mover to an actuator. The adaptor includes a first portion that attaches to the prime mover and a second portion that attaches to the actuator. The outer surface of the first portion is defined by at least one flat portion connected by at least one arcuate portion. The second portion has a bore configured to accept the first portion, with an inner surface shaped to complement the outer surface of the first portion. A bore through the first portion accepts a drive shaft of the prime mover therethrough where the drive shaft is configured to engage the actuator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/058,778 entitled ADAPTOR FOR ATTACHING A PROPANEENGINE TO A HYDRAULIC PUMP that was filed on Oct. 2, 2014, the contentsof which are incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The discussion below is merely provided for general backgroundinformation and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining thescope of the claimed subject matter.

The present disclosure relates to an adaptor to couple a prime mover toan actuator. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to anadaptor to convert a battery-powered actuator to a actuator powered by aprime mover other than a battery.

Dump trailers commonly have hydraulic lifts to raise and lower a trailerbed. In many instances, the dump trailer is configured to contain andtransport unwanted materials to a dump or other facility.

Typically, the dump trailer is powered by a battery, such as, forexample, a twelve volt battery of the type typically utilized to startan automobile. Due to the power required to raise a bed loaded withmaterial, a typical twelve volt battery is able to raise a loaded bedand lower the bed about two times before needing to be recharged.However, there is typically enough time for an operator of the dumptrailer to transport more than two trailer loads in a work period, givenan operational trailer. Charging the battery can take several hours,which impedes the productivity of the operator. The discharged batterycan be replaced with a charged battery, allowing the trailer to continueoperations, but replacement batteries are expensive and replacing adischarged battery with a charged battery can be time-consuming.Therefore, the battery is often a limiting factor in the number of loadsthat a dump trailer can move in a day.

It is common for boat docks to be equipped with boat lifts, which raisea boat out of the water when not in use. Leaving a boat in the waterwhen at dock leads to corrosion and wear caused by water, algae, andother natural elements. In the water, the boat is also subject to beingknocked against the dock, potentially damaging the boat or mooringstructures. Boat lifts use a winch to raise the boat out of the water.The winch is typically manually or electrically powered. However, theuse of manual power is labor-intensive, and the use of electrical poweris not ideal near the water.

SUMMARY

This Summary herein is provided to introduce a selection of concepts ina simplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they intendedto be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementationsthat solve any or all disadvantages noted in the Background.

The present disclosure relates to an adaptor configured to connect aprime mover to an actuator, such as a hydraulic lift for a dump trailer.The hydraulic lift includes a hydraulically powered actuator or hoistthat is hydraulically coupled to a pump with hydraulic hoses or lines.The prime mover can be an engine designed to use propane as the fuel iscoupled to the pump with the adaptor, where the engine can be configuredto accept a conventional pressurized propane canister. The adaptorincludes a first portion that is configured to be attached to anactuating end of the engine. The first portion includes an outer surfaceand an interior through bore. The adaptor includes a second portion thatis configured to be attached to the housing of the pump. The secondportion includes a central cavity that provides access to a drive shaftof the hydraulic pump. The central cavity is configured to accept theouter surface of the first portion such that the first portion is nestedand retained within the central cavity of the second portion. The secondportion includes at least one bore that intersects the central cavityand allows a securing mechanism to pass thereon and frictionally engagethe outer surface of the first portion, thereby securing the first andsecond portions together and preventing the rotation of the firstportion within the second portion. The outer surface of the firstportion and the central cavity of the second portion may include matingflat surfaces that interact to prevent rotation of the first portionrelative to the second portion.

A bearing is positioned about the shaft proximate a pump drive engagingend such that the outer portion of the bearing is configured to engage acavity in the pump housing. The pump drive engaging end is configured toengage a drive shaft of the pump. A centrifugal clutch on the primemover is configured to engage the distal end of the shaft as the primemover, such an engine, speed increases, thereby forcing the pump driveengaging end into contact with the drive shaft on the pump. When theclutch engages the shaft due to the rotational speed of the engine, theengine transfers power to the pump through the shaft and causespressurized hydraulic fluid to be transferred to the actuator such thatthe bed is raised. Reducing the engine speed or stopping the enginecauses the clutch to disengage the shaft, thereby allowing the bed tolower against the resistance of the hydraulic pump.

The adaptor may also be used to couple the prime mover to a gear box. Afirst portion of the adaptor is configured to be attached to theactuating end of the prime mover. A second portion of the adaptor isconfigured to be coupled to the gear box, and includes an input shaftthat drives gears within the gear box. The first and second portions ofthe adaptor are coupled as described above where a distal end of a driveshaft is configured to engage the input shaft of the gear box. A clutchon the prime mover forces the drive shaft to engage the input shaft,which in turn causes an output shaft to rotate wherein the output shaftis engaged with an actuator, such as, for example, a winch.

This Summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment orevery implementation of the present invention. Many other noveladvantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as thisdescription proceeds. The figures and the description that follows moreparticularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dump trailer with a hydraulic hoistpowered by an engine.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a hydraulic pump coupled to theengine with an adaptor.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the hydraulic pump coupled to theengine with the adaptor.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the hydraulic pump, the engine, and theadaptor for coupling the pump and engine together.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a portion of theadapter that attaches to the prime mover.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a winch, a gear box, a engine, and anadaptor for coupling the pump and engine together.

FIG. 6A is a view of an engine attaching portion of the adaptor attachedto a mount plate.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the engine attaching portion of theadaptor.

FIG. 7A is a front view of an actuator attaching portion of the adaptor.

FIG. 7B is back view of the actuator attaching portion of the adaptor.

FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the actuator attaching portion of theadaptor.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the adaptor and an actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A dump trailer 10 with a hydraulic hoist 12 is generally illustrated inFIG. 1. The dump trailer 10 includes a frame 16 that is supported bywheels 18 and has a hitch 20 at a front end for attaching to a primemover (not shown). A dump box 22 has a floor 23 and a front wall 24,left and right side walls 26 and 28 that extend upwardly from the edgesof the floor 23. The dump box 22 has a tail gate at a back end of thefloor 23 where the tail gate is positionable from a closed,substantially vertical position where the tail gate retains material inthe dump box 22 to an open position wherein as the hoist 12 lifts thedump box 22, the incline on the floor 23 increases and causes thematerial within the dump box 22 to slide out through the back end. Whenpower to the hydraulic hoist 12 is removed, the weight of the dump box22 causes the dump box 22 to lower and rest upon the frame 16.

Power is supplied to the hydraulic hoist 12 by a hydraulic pump 30 thatis coupled to an engine 32, which is typically configured to utilizepropane as a fuel, but may be configured to use other fuels, such as forexample, natural gas, gasoline, diesel fuel, or biofuel. A throttlingmechanism 33 may be mechanically coupled to the engine 32 to manipulatethe rotational speed of the engine 32 and therefore, the power providedto the hydraulic pump 30. The throttling mechanism 33 may be used toadjust the speed at which the hydraulic hoist 12 raises and lowers thedump box 22. While an engine is described and illustrated, any primemover is within the scope of the present disclosure, including, but notlimited to, fossil fuel powered engines, pneumatic motors, hydraulicmotors and electric motors.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the hydraulic pump 30 is coupled to the engine32 with an adaptor 40. A reservoir 34 is coupled to the hydraulic pump30 to manage the amount of hydraulic fluid in the system. The hydraulicpump 30 includes a high pressure discharge port 36 and a low pressureinlet port 38 that are in fluid communication with the hoist 12 throughhoses (not shown) such that the hydraulic pump 30 can be utilized toraise and lower the dump box 22 with the hoist 12.

The length of the reservoir 34, hydraulic pump 30, and a typical twelvevolt battery is about 18 inches. When coupled together, the hydraulicpump 30, reservoir 34, and a typical propane-powered engine 32 with theadaptor 40 is about twenty three inches in length. Due to the compactnature of adaptor 40 and engine 32, little or no modification to thedump trailer 10 is likely required to convert the drive mechanism froman electric motor to a engine powered by propane.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, an engine attaching portion 60 of the adaptor40 is secured to a mounting plate 70, which is mounted to the engineblock 72 as described below. Pump attaching portion 50 of the adaptor 40is attached to pump housing 111. The engine attaching portion 60 fitsinto the pump attaching portion 50, and is secured by threaded fasteners136 as described below. When joined, the engine attaching portion 60nests within the pump attaching portion 50 so that the engine 32 cantransfer power to the hydraulic pump 30.

Referring to FIG. 4A, another embodiment of the engine attaching portionis illustrated where the engine attaching portion 60 and the mountingplate 70 are of a monolithic construction. The monolithic embodimentincludes the through bores 73 for attaching to the adapter portion tothe engine and a through bore 59 configured to carry the clutch. Anothername for the engine attaching portion of the adapter is a clutch drumcarrier. The embodiment of the clutch drum carrier illustrated in FIG.4A is interchangeable with the multi-component clutch drum carrierillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, engine attaching portion 60 includes aplurality of threaded bores 66 that are aligned with bores 71 in themounting plate 70. A plurality of threaded bolts are positioned throughbores 71 to threadably engage threaded bores 66, thereby securing theengine engaging portion 60 to mounting plate 70. Mounting plate 70 isthen secured to an engine block 72 with a plurality of threaded bolts 74that are positioned through bores 73 in mounting plate 70 to threadablyengage threaded bores 76 in the engine block 72. However, other securingmechanisms besides threaded bolts are also contemplated including, butnot limited to, a weld and an adhesive.

Engine attaching portion 60 includes a continuous outer surface 80 thathas substantially arcuate portions 82 with a constant radius that areconnected by substantially flat portions 84. The engine attachingportion 60 includes an interior bore 61 configured to allow a driveshaft 140 and a bearing 141 that carries the shaft 140 to passtherethrough, as described below.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the pump attaching portion 50 has aplurality of apertures 114 that pass from a front surface 110 to a backsurface 112, and are aligned with threaded bores in a pump housing 111(FIG. 4). Threaded bolts 118 are inserted into the apertures 114 andthreadably engage the threaded bores such that the back surface 112abuts a surface of the pump housing 111. The apertures 114 are typicallycountersunk, and the bolts 118 have heads that are also countersunk soas to not interrupt the front surface 110.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the back surface 112 includes a shoulder 113 thatconforms the back surface 112 to the configuration of the surface of thepump housing 111. However, surface 112 can have any shape, provided theback surface 112 is secured to the pump housing 111.

The pump attaching portion 50 includes a through bore 120 that passesfrom the front surface 110 to the back surface 112 and provides accessto a pump drive shaft that drives the pump impeller. Surface 122 of bore120 complements outer surface 80 of engine attaching portion 60, andincludes arcuate portions 124 and substantially flat portions 126. Theengine attaching portion 60 may be positioned within the bore 120 of thepump attaching portion 50 such that the arcuate portions 82 and 124 andthe substantially flat portions 84 and 126 of the engine attachingportion 60 and the pump attaching portion 50 interact. The engagement ofthe flat portions 84 and 126 prevent rotation of the engine attachingportion 60 relative to the pump attaching portion 50. Any number andconfiguration of flat and arcuate portions may be used, so long as theflats of the respective portions 50, 60 engage to prevent relativerotation of the portions 50, 60 of adaptor 40. Further, polygonalconfigurations, elliptical configurations, mating protuberances andslots for the surfaces can be within the scope of the presentdisclosure. Also, it is contemplated that the pump attaching the portion50 nests with the engine attaching portion 60.

Referring to FIGS. 7C and 8, an exemplary embodiment of the pumpattaching portion 50 includes a first pair of threaded bores 128 and asecond set of threaded bores 130, all of which pass from an outersurface 132 to the surface defining the through bore 120 and intersectthe flat portions 126. Threaded fasteners 136, such as set screws, areinserted into bores 128 and 130 to frictionally engage the flat portions84 of the outer surface 80 of the engine attaching portion 60, therebypreventing rotation and securing the engine attaching portion 60 to thepump attaching portion 50. Two pairs of fasteners 136 are described, butany number useful in securing portions 50 and 60 may be used. Whenthreaded fasteners 136 are utilized, the mating surfaces can be circularin configuration.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the front surface 110 of the pump attachingportion 50 includes cavities 134 that are configured to accept the headsof the bolts 74 to allow the front surface 64 of the engine engagingportion 60 to abut the front surface 110 of the pump engaging portion50. Having the surfaces of the engine attaching portion 60 abut and nestwithin the pump attaching portion 50 allows for a compact design.

As the speed of the engine 32 is increased, for example with throttlingmechanism 34, the clutch engages the shaft 140 and forces shaft 140 toengage a drive shaft of the pump 30 causing pressurized fluid to betransferred to the actuator, thereby causing the actuator 12 to expandand raise the dump box 22. To disengage the actuator 12 and, forexample, lower dump box 22, the engine speed is reduced or stopped suchthat shaft 140 disengages the drive shaft of the pump 30. With theengine 32 throttled down or off, the actuator 12 is contracted due tothe weight of the trailer bed.

Referring to FIG. 5, in an alternative embodiment, adaptor 40 may beused to couple a prime mover, such as an engine, to a gear box 152 of anactuator, such as a winch 156. Gears in gear box 152 convert therotational speed and torque output by the engine 32 to at least onespeed and torque suitable for the desired application. For example,winch 156 may be mounted to a boat lift used to raise a boat out of thewater at dock. As can be seen in FIG. 5, engine attaching portion 60 maybe mounted to an internal combustion engine 32. An engine attachingportion 60 includes bore 61 configured to accept a drive shaft 140 thatengages the clutch 142 of engine 32. A gear box attaching portion 50 maybe secured to a gear box 152, and includes a bore 120 configured toaccept engine attaching portion 60, and to allow the drive shaft 140access to gears disposed in gear box 152. Engine attaching portion 60fits into bore 120 of gear box attaching portion 50, and may be securedby fasteners 136. The gears of gear box 152 may be coupled to driveshaft 140 of engine 32 at input 153, and to the winch 156 at output 154.The engine 32 causes drive shaft 140 to rotate, thereby engaging thegears and turning the winch 156. The gear box 152 can be configured toreduce the rotational speed of the gear box output to better control thespeed at which the winch 156 operates. Depending upon the application,the gear box 152 can also increase the rotational rate of the gear boxoutput. The winch 156 draws up or releases cables attached to a cradleconfigured to support a boat.

A winch and a hydraulic hoist are described herein, but adaptor 40 maybe used to couple an engine 32 to any actuator, either directly orthrough an intermediate device that, for example, controls speed ortorque or performs power conversion, such as a gear train or a hydraulicor pneumatic pump. Adaptor 40 may be used to convert an actuator orintermediate device designed for use with an electric or other powersource to be used with an internal combustion engine, such as forexample, a propane powered engine.

Although the subject matter has been described in a language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above ashas been determined by the courts. Rather, the specific features andacts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing theclaims. In addition, any feature disclosed with respect to oneembodiment may be incorporated in another embodiment, and vice-versa.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A method of replacing a first prime mover of anactuator assembly with a second prime mover having a different powersource than the first prime mover, the method comprising: removing thefirst prime move from the actuator; attaching a first member of anadaptor to the second prime mover, the first member having anon-circular outer surface and an interior through bore configured topass a drive shaft of the second prime therethrough; attaching a secondmember of the adaptor to the actuator assembly, the second member havinga through bore with a non-circular inner surface; positioning the firstmember within the through bore of the second member, wherein the outersurface of the first member engages the inner surface of the throughbore of the second member to prevent the first and second members fromrotating relative to each other; and securing the first and secondmembers together such that the second prime mover replaces the firstprime mover.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first prime movercomprise a motor powered by an electric battery.
 22. The method of claim20, wherein the second prime mover comprises a fossil fuel poweredinternal combustion engine.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein thesecond prime mover comprises a propane powered engine.
 24. The method ofclaim 20, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a hydraulic actuatingsystem.
 25. The method of claim 20, wherein the actuator assemblycomprises a gear box coupled to an actuator, the gear box configured toprovide at least one speed and torque conversion between the secondprime mover and the actuator.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein theactuator comprises a winch.
 27. The method of claim 20 and furthercomprising utilizing a centrifugal clutch to move the drive shaft intoengagement with the actuator assembly to provide power to the actuatorassembly.
 28. The method of claim 27 and further comprising disengagingthe centrifugal clutch from the drive shaft to remove power from theactuator assembly.
 29. A method of replacing a first prime mover of anactuator assembly with a second prime mover having a different powersource than the first prime mover, the method comprising: removing thefirst prime move from the actuator; providing an adaptor comprising afirst member and a second member that have non-circular complementarysurfaces that allow the first and second members nest together;attaching a first member of the adaptor to the second prime mover;attaching the second member of the adaptor to the actuator assembly;positioning the first and second members together in the nestingposition such that the non-circular complementary surfaces engage andprevent rotation of the first and second members relative to each other;and securing the first and second members together such that the secondprime mover replaces the first prime mover.
 30. The method of claim 29,wherein the first member comprises a non-circular outer surface and aninterior through bore configured to pass a drive shaft of the secondprime therethrough
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the second membercomprises a non-circular through bore configured to nest with thenon-circular outer surface of the first member.
 32. The method of claim29, wherein the first prime mover comprise a motor powered by anelectric battery.
 33. The method of claim 29, wherein the second primemover comprises a fossil fuel powered internal combustion engine. 34.The method of claim 29, wherein the second prime mover comprises apropane powered engine.
 35. The method of claim 29, wherein the actuatorassembly comprises a hydraulic actuating system.
 36. The method of claim29, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a gear box coupled to anactuator, the gear box configured to provide at least one speed andtorque conversion between the second prime mover and the actuator. 37.The method of claim 29, wherein the actuator comprises a winch.
 38. Themethod of claim 29 and further comprising utilizing a centrifugal clutchto move the drive shaft into engagement with the actuator assembly toprovide power to the actuator assembly.
 39. The method of claim 38 andfurther comprising disengaging the centrifugal clutch from the driveshaft to remove power from the actuator assembly.